Read Online On Lone Star Trail by Amanda Cabot - Free Book Online Page A

one told you.” He paused for effect. “She used to be a concert pianist. A pretty good one, from all accounts. Won some kind of fancy award.”
    A concert pianist. TJ’s breath came out in a whoosh as the words registered. No wonder he’d found her so unapproachable when she’d stopped her car to rescue him. His first impression had been correct. They came from very different worlds. Gillian was probably used to caviar and chateaubriand, limos and luxury, where he was a barbecue and beans kind of guy.
    TJ shook himself mentally. There was no reason Gillian’s career should have shocked him. It wasn’t as if they were more than casual acquaintances. He turned his attention back to Russ, whose expression had grown more sober.
    â€œThe way I hear it, she had one of those sky’s-the-limit careers. Then she was in some kind of accident—hurt her hand pretty bad.” Russ’s mouth curved into a frown. “Rumor is she’ll never play again.”

8
    G illian pulled into one of the angled parking spots in front of the Sit ‘n’ Sip, wondering whether there was any point in going inside. TJ didn’t strike her as the kind of man to wait patiently for a woman who was a quarter of an hour late. The time with Sally had passed quickly, and Gillian had been startled to realize she’d been gone longer than she’d planned. She had half expected to see TJ heading back to Rainbow’s End or possibly standing on the curb, tapping his foot in annoyance. Instead, there was no sign of him. Unwilling to possibly abandon him, she climbed out of the car.
    As she entered the small diner, she blinked to let her eyes adjust to the relative darkness, and as she did, a man called out,“Welcome to Dupree, Miss Hodge. I hope you’ll sit a spell.”
    Gillian blinked again, this time at the novelty of being addressed as “Miss Hodge.” It was true that reporters occasionally called her that, but this man was no reporter. His white apron and position behind the counter left no doubt that he worked here.
    Before Gillian could respond, the man said, “I was just tellingyour friend here about your accident. Is it true you won’t be playing again?”
    He might not be a reporter, but he sounded like the ones who’d been waiting for her the day she’d been released from the hospital after the last round of surgery. Feeling as if she’d been ambushed, Gillian nodded. “That’s what the doctors say.”
    She turned to TJ, who’d drained his cup and laid a couple bills on the counter. “Are you ready?” It might be rude, but Gillian had no intention of discussing either her medical history or her career with a complete stranger. Though Texans had a reputation for friendliness, there was a fine line between friendliness and prying. This man had stepped over the line.
    â€œI’m sorry about that,” TJ said as they pulled onto Lone Star Trail. When he ran a hand through his hair, Gillian noticed that the shaggy ends were gone. It appeared TJ had put his time in Dupree to good use.
    â€œRuss was just being friendly,” TJ said. “He was really impressed that a famous pianist came to Dupree.”
    â€œFormer pianist,” Gillian corrected him. Oddly, it didn’t hurt as much as she’d expected to say that.
    â€œThat must be tough.”
    â€œIt is.” Though she had not wanted to talk to Russ whatever-his-last-name-was, Gillian had no such discomfort with TJ. The pain she’d seen in his eyes and his leaving his chosen career at least temporarily made her think he would understand.
    â€œI feel rudderless,” she admitted. “I had my life carefully planned, and now there’s nothing. I have no idea what I’ll do next, because the only thing I know is music.”
    Even though Kate had had no difficulty transitioning from a high-powered job in Manhattan to a totally different